Fragments of Rolandino de’ Passaggeri, Aurora [Italy (Bologna?), 14th century]

circa 30 fragments, the largest 380x480mm, including some incomplete bifolia and some full leaves 395x280mm, paper, watermarks include a pear and two leaves, very close to Briquet nos. 7345-49 (Bologna and other places, 1336-42), a bow and arrow, very close to Briquet no.795 (Genoa, 1358), and a hunting-horn (not very close to any in Briquet), 2 columns, 50 lines, 280x195mm, with considerable wear and damage

Rolandino de’ Passaggeri (d.1300) was one of the most important jurists and notaries of the 13th century, remembered as much for his role in politics as for his writings. In 1255 he published his Summa totius artis notariae in four books which treat, respectively, contracts, wills, judicial procedure, and copies and renewals of deeds. In the 1280s he wrote a commentary on Book I, ‘De emptione et venditione’, known as the Aurora; despite its fragmentary and partially illegible state, the present fragments can be identified as this work; the rubric 'Aurora' appears frequently. The Summa and Aurora were printed numerous times, but they seem to be very rare on the market: the Schoenberg database apparently records only three copies ever having been offered for sale. There is a 1977 reprint of the 1546 edition, but apparently no modern edition of the text.

These fragments owe their survival to the fact that they were apparently used as padding or stiffening material in the lining of some other object. Three have an edge cut with a double-S shaped profile, with stitching-holes along this edge, perhaps suggesting the lapel of a coat or waistcoat.